The Texans got their first injury report of the week out Wednesday, and for a season opener, it brought more relief than concern.
Houston listed only three players: second-round rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was limited with an ankle injury, while linebacker Wade Woodaz and offensive tackle Trent Brown were full participants.
That’s the kind of opening report a team wants heading into Week 1. Woodaz, who has been working back from a broken thumb suffered in the preseason, was held out of Houston’s final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, but he’s now moving toward being available for Sunday.
Brown’s situation looks even cleaner. According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the veteran tackle is working through an “old injury” that is reportedly “not a big deal.” Wilson also reported that Brown’s wrist issue did not require surgery and that he is set for the Bills game in the season-opener.
#Texans offensive tackle Trent Brown is dealing with an old wrist injury, not a big deal, didn't require surgery. All set for #Bills game in season-opener
If Brown is good to go, he should slide into the role the Texans have been expecting from him as their starting right tackle opposite Aireontae Ersery.
Woodaz’s return would also be a boost for Houston’s linebacker group. He’s made noise during training camp and preseason, and with Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o ahead of him, he looks like the favorite to open the season as the team’s LB3.
There were also a couple of encouraging signs beyond Wednesday’s official injury list. Jake Hansen, who had been dealing with an ankle injury since the start of training camp, was not included on the report, which points toward him being available for Week 1 against Buffalo.
Veteran tight end Brevin Jordan also was not on the initial injury list after battling a lingering knee issue through preseason. Jordan has missed the past few weeks, and his status for the active roster is still unclear with five tight ends on Houston’s 53-man roster, any of whom could be inactive on game day.
If Jordan is ready, it would mark his first regular-season appearance since Week 2 of the 2024 season.
The Texans have two more practices before they meet the Bills on Sunday, September 13, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. CT.
In Other News...
Texans Depth Chart Just Revealed Whos Gaining Early Trust
The Texans finally put their first unofficial depth chart on paper for Week 1, and it offered an early snapshot of how the staff is sorting through the roster heading into the regular season. Kayshon Boutte showing up among the starting wide receivers suggests he has earned real trust in a crowded room, while Marlin Klein landing as the third tight end and Kayden McDonald sitting fifth at defensive tackle help sketch out where the team sees its developing pieces right now.
Depth charts are never the final word this early, but they do tell a story about who is getting the first nod when the games start to count. For Houston, the bigger takeaway is less about any one slot than the broader shape of the roster, with several young players already staking claim to defined roles and others still fighting to move up before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Keep Facing The Same Worry Every Time A Season Starts
DeMeco Ryans is once again dealing with a familiar early-season issue after talking through the Texans sluggish offensive starts in season openers at his recent press conference. Since Ryans took over in 2023, Houston has gone 1-2 in Week 1, and the offense has averaged just 15.7 points in those games, a trend that keeps putting the team behind the eight ball before the season has really settled in.
Part of the concern has been the quality of the opponents Houston has faced, but the bigger problem has been getting the run game to click early and keeping key backs healthy enough to establish any rhythm. Injuries to players like Joe Mixon have only added to the challenge, leaving the Texans with a recurring question they still have to answer every time a new season opens. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Week 1 Lineup Suddenly Hinges On Two Unsettled Spots
While Jacksonville is sorting out its Week 1 offensive line, the Texans have had a quieter but still meaningful roster shift of their own with Kayshon Boutte now in the mix. Houston added the wide receiver after losing Jayden Higgins, and DeMeco Ryans has already singled out how quickly Boutte has fit into the room, a useful sign for a team trying to keep its passing game on schedule as the season opens.
For Houston, the intrigue is less about the move itself than how fast Boutte can turn that fast start in meetings into something tangible on the field. The Texans need depth to show up early, especially with injuries forcing changes around the league and division rivals like Jacksonville and Tennessee also trying to settle their own pieces before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]